News from the Centre

OCW response to Glastir Consultation

OCW responded to the Glastir consultation. The full text of the submission can be read here, but in essence they:

• Agreed that the requirement to join the Entry level before accessing the other elements of Glastir should be removed and supported the proposal for wider access to the Glastir Advanced and Efficiency grants. • Agreed with an enhanced role for project officers, for example to co-operative applications.• Argued that range of options on the table should remain as broad as possible, but if options were to be removed, those that deliver the smallest benefits should be dropped. • Welcomed the goal of balancing agricultural and environmental outputs and highlighted the contribution that organic farming to doing exactly that.• Proposed that, with respect to modernization grant, that there should be a higher rate of intervention in cases where an investments actively support the environmental delivery of other Glastir options, including Glastir Organic. • Supported the inclusion of agroforestry in the small grant scheme • Welcomed support for introducing cattle into sheep-only systems, highlighting that this approach is strongly favoured by organic farming principles with respect to environmental grazing and stock management• Agreed with the proposal to pursue opportunities to embed additional ecosystems services. For example we see potential to work with water companies to provide part of compensation to organic farmers for reduced input use in recognition of water quality inputs.